Info on DIY Auto-Top-Off

[easye123]

I need info on how to make a auto top of system before i leave on vacation

i have a 29g with sump/refug.

also

i have a rio 600 and a 5g bcucket thats about it to start of with..

how can i construct and Auto top off system

 

[bassnman11]

I use a aqualifter pump hooked to a timer. There is a float valve in the sump as a backup. I run 2 short time cycles a day. You have a container, so you could build the whole thing for less than $40 I have mine Ted to fill 2 different sumps.

 

[waldomas]

Get a cheep float valv4 used for small outdoor coi ponds (around $15 or so) . Mount it to youre sump and run an airline hose from youre bucket (placed above youre sump) to the float valve. The valve is adjustable to make setting the level in the sump easy. I used a square piece of pvc that I cut off a fitting, I drilled it for the airline hose, and it works great. I dont, however, have and snails etc. in my sump to jam the float valve! BTW, my tank goes through 35 gal. of top off water / wk. and never had any probs. in the 14mos. its been set up.

 

[Hurt]

Not to highjack this thread, but Waldomas do you have any pictures of your set up? I am trying to do the same thing, a simple gravity fed top-off. The problem I ran into, was that most float valves(kent FV) say that you can only mount them 2 inches above the desired level, and for my fuge it's about 4 inches from the top to the water line. So, the float valves for Koi ponds are adjustable as far as the desired heigth is concerned?

 

[waldomas]

Sorry, no pics. Mine is about 3 inches above the water line in my sump. Are you using youre sump as youre fuge? If so, i would lower the water line to avoid a flood if you lose power! That would give you plenty of room to install the float valve. The adjustable part is the actual float. You can move it up or down to adjust the level of the water (within a couple of inches).

 

[Hurt]

I run a 20g sump/fuge, but it is primarily a fuge. It's a 20g with only 15-16g going through it-so no flooding issues. My dilema is that the float valve's I have seen don't seem to be adjustable in order to make it drop 4 inches below the top of my fuge to the water line. I was planning on making a ~5g acrylic kalk resivor, placing the bottom of it at the top of my fuge, drilling it for the float valve, then have the float valve sit in my return pump chamber(far left). But, now it seems that I can find an adjustable float from a Koi-pond store. Thanks for the info.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/BigHurt/IM000625.jpg

 

[waldomas]

Hurt,

It looks as though you have plenty of room to mount the float vavle above the water line. You can drill a hole about 2 inches above the water line or you can mount it like I did. I used what I think was a pvc coupling to attach square drainpipe to a 6 inch round pipe. I just cut off the square piece and attached it to the sump wall at the waterline. It will look like a square basketball hoop after it is mounted. Drill in a hole first to mount the float valve. I purched mine at "That pet place".

 

[Hurt]

Thanks for the info. I believe I am going to buy this float valve. I planned on making a ~5g acrylic tank for my kalk top off's. I was just going to drill this reservoir and put the float valve in it. The bottom of this reservoir will sit at the top of my fuge. The float valve will sit down in the fuge. Does this float valve look okay to use?

http://floatvalve.com/float-7-large.html

 

[waldomas]

That look like the one. If that thunb screw isnt nylon, I'd consider changing it. After thinking about it for a minute, I would avoid drilling a hole at or even above the waterline in the sump. If you lose power and its not sealed well, you might have a small flood. Try attaching it with pvc.

Good luck,
Waldo